History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 84

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 932

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" About the time Professor Dana's school was closed a school was opened in a two-storied wooden building situated in Catharine Street, on the site now occupied by M. B. De Long's furniture store. The upper story of the building was occupied by the Freemasons, and the school was conducted in the first story. The first teacher of this school was Professor Lemereux, who established the school on the Lancasterian plan, which at that time was quite popular. This plan originated in the mission schools of India, and was introduced into England in 1789, by Dr. Andrew Bell, and through his instructions Joseph Lancaster acquired a knowledge of the system, and estab- lished a school near London, England, where this plan was practically illustrated. The system was introduced into this country in 1805. The original Lancasterian plan was to divide the school iuto classes, all being under the general supervision of the teacher. Each class was subdivided into pairs of two pupils, cach alternately acting as teacher of the other. In this way a large number could be placed under the control of one teacher, the pupils instructing each other. This system, with some modifications, continued to be quite popular until about 1830, when it was superseded by new methods. Mr. Lan- caster visited this country in 1838 and tried to re-establish the sys- tem, but was not successful. He soon after lost his life by a street accident.#

" In the year 1812 a school was taught by Prof. P. HI. Ingraham, in the building located on the corner of Washington and Whitesboro' Streets, where the present Washington Street school building now stands. Whatever Mr. Ingraham's intellectual qualifications might have been, history doth not affirm, but we must conclude that his moral nature was yet benighted ; suffering himu to grope in darkness and crime; as he left both school and towu in disgrace, having forged the name of Thomas James to a business paper. For this offense he was tried and sentenced to State prison for a term of seven years and two days, but was pardoned before the expiration of the sentence. HIe then emigrated to Texas, and iu course of time was elected to the Legislature, and became Speaker of the House of Representatives. This incident is mentioned rather as illustrating the mntability of human affairs, than as an incentive to ' go thou and do likewise.'

" About this time there was also a school taught by David R. Dixon, and afterwards by Prof. Bliss, on the corner of Genesee and Elizabeth Streets. This was in a one-storied building with two rooms on the same floor, with a folding partition between them. This site was after- wards occupied by the Eagle Tavern, and is the present site of Grace Church. There are those now living in the city who distinctly re-

# Dr. Bagg states that the wife of Rev. Mr. Hammond, a Welsh Baptist minister, taught a school near the lower end of Hotel Street in 1804.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

member being excused from school to see the army under Colonel, af- terwards Major-General Winfield Scott, march through the village on its way to Buffalo and Queenstown. The father of one of our promi- nent citizens paid the tuition of his children in Prof. Dixon's school in land. This land is located in the eighth ward, and is still known as the Dixon lot.

"In March, 1814, the charter of the Utica Academy was granted to the petitioners, nineteen in number, by the Board of Regents to the University. In the preceding January a subscription was opened for the purpose of collecting funds for the crection of a suitable academic building, with the proviso attached, that part of such building should be occupied for holding courts of justice. For some cause the circu- lation of the subscription ecased and the project was temporarily abandoned. Some time during the next year, however, the trustees of the academy formally accepted the trust granted by the State, and in the succeding year, 1816, a committee of citizens proposed to aid the trustees in raising money for the erection of an academy, town hall, and court-house combined in one and the same building. A second subscription list was opened, and the necessary amount real- ized. At this time a difference of opinion arose regarding a site. This controversy is thus described by the late Hon. James Watson Williams :

"' At once there sprung up a famous controversy about a site for the proposed structure ; and Genesee Road, Miller Road, and Whitesboro' Road had a street fight to settle that matter. The Van Rensselaers, the Bleeckers, Dudleys, and Millers, the Coopers, Potters, and Bellin- gers contested it so hotly that it became necessary, as expressed in the new subscription paper, in order to secure harmony in the village, that the subscriptions should be so made as that every subscriber to the amount of five dollars should have a vote for either of two sites designated; one of which was the site finally adopted, and the other a lot on Genesee Street, then adjoining the old Van Rensselaer home- stead, and occupied for a private school, now the site of Grace Church and the Butterfield House ; Whitesboro' Street voluntarily or proba- bly involuntarily being excluded from the vote. The final subscrip- tion, dated May 4, 1816, is a venerable document, the body of it printed, aud both printing and signatures done on a roll of parchment a yard and a half long, well filled with names and subscriptions from three hundred dollars down to five dolla.s. At the foot are two cer- tificates engrossed by Colonel Benjamin Walker, the military com- panion, friend and legatee of Baron Steuben; one of them purporting that subscriptions have been made to the required amount within the present time (only twenty-six days), and the other that on polling the votes for a site, as provided in the document, 657 votes were found in favor of the site on Chancellor's 'Square, and 445 in favor of that on Genesee Street, being a majority of 222, so that Genesee Road had to retire from the great contest, satisfied with its private school and its Seneca Turnpike, and Whitesboro' Road with its York House and the graveyard. Chancellor's Square, with its capacities for possible glories, proved triumphant; for, although it was an uninclosed boggy plain, with the dirty ditch stagnating through the middle, yet a prescient cye might perceive that it had not only the present certainty of a roomy play ground with convenient mud-puddle facilities for boyish aquatie entertainments, but that it might, in the course of time, when surrounded by imposing and public buildings, be a fine park and breathing place for crowded institutions, as we see it at the present day.'

" Mr. Williams' description differs somewhat from that of an carlier writer, who was evidently in favor of the site finally selected : 'The location of this institution is unrivaled in point of salubrity and beauty ; built on an eminence in a retired part of the town, com- manding an extensive and charming view, having attached to it a large tract of play ground, in front and rear, for the students.' This description would hardly be apppropriate as we see it to-day. The building, or rather that part of it designed for the use of the school, was opened in August, 1818, and Rev. Samuel Mills was appointed first principal."

This building was used until 1852 for the holding of courts and other public uses, one of the expressed condi- tions for the erection of Utica into a half-shire town being that the courts should have the joint usc of the academy. In 1852 a court-house was completed and the academy returned to its legitimate uscs. It was torn down and the

present costly and commodious structure erected in its stead in 1867-68.

" Some time during the year 1815, Montgomery Bartlett opened a school for young ladies on Hotel Street, nearly opposite the present location of Chubbuck's Hall. This school was in successful operation several years. Mr. Bartlett afterwards acquired some reputation as an astronomer, and published a work upon that subject.

"In this year, and also upon Hotel Street, near the present alley Icading to Burchard Street, Mr. Samuel M. Todd taught a school, which, like its rival neighbor, enjoyed an excellent reputation and liberal patronage.

" About the year 1816 a school was opened in what was then known as the Kirkland Block, which became one of the most popular schools of the day. The Kirkland Block was then a long row of wooden buildings, running from Genesee to Hotel Street. The entrance to the school-room was from Liberty Street.

" In the year 1817 a school taught by Ambrose Kasson was opened in a building on Whitesboro', corner of Division Street. Mr. Kasson ranked high as an instructor, and received large patronage. Many of his pupils afterwards took bigh positions both in private and public life.

" Quite a popular school was established in the eastern part of the city in 1817. This school was located in a house owned by Peter Smith, and was under the supervision of Miss Mary Hubbell.

" In the year 1820, Thomas Powell opened a school in Gencsee Street, just below the present site of the Marble Block. Mr. Powell afterwards seems to have left the toilsome, plodding life of the school- master, and entered the profession of law. He afterwards became quite distinguished as Judge Powell.

"In 1821 a school was established in a building just east of the site where the High School was afterwards located. This sebool was taught by our townsman, Hon. Alrick Hubbell.

" In 1823, Prof. Hays, better known by the school-boys of those days as ' Father Hays,' taught school in a building located in Genesee Street, where John E. Roberts & Co.'s hardware store now stands. The building was known as Minerva Hall. Some of our citizens now living still 'painfully' remember that Prof. Hays had an assistant who gave them some striking examples of the use of birch rods.

"In 1826 a seminary for young ladies was established in a building located on Whitesboro' Street, Mr. and Mrs. Everts, principals.

" Quite a noted institution of learning was established in the year 1827, called the Utica Gymnasium, and was afterwards known as the Utica High School. This was located on Broad Street, in the eastern part of the city. The premises are now occupied as a residence by James Brady. The school building was in the form of a semi-circle, the circular portion being partitioned off into stalls, so arranged that cach pupil was in plain view of the teacher, who sat on a high plat- form at a point opposite the centre of the circle. When a pupil took his scat he was unable to see or communicate with any of the other students. As this was a school so often mentioned with just feelings of pride by some of our older citizens, I will give the names of the several professors composing the first faculty : Charles Bartlett, A.M., Principal ; Uridge Whiffen, A. M., Instructor in Greek and Latin ; Rev. John Spinner (father of the late United States Treasurer), Teacher of German aud Spanish Languages; Asa Gray, M.D., Instructor in the Natural Sciences (Dr. Gray was afterwards the author of some very popular works on botany, and was elected Professor of Natural His- tory in Harvard University ) ; Lyman W. Colburn, Professor of Mathe- matics ; M. Deshon Montbrum, Instructor in the French Language ; Dudley Bartlett, Teacher of Penmanship ; Ebenezer Leach, Teacher of Music.

"In May, 1828, a seminary for young ladies was established in Seneca Street, Rev. S. Whittlesey, Principal.

" In April of the same year an infant-school society was formed, the object of which was to give care and instruction to the infant poor, from the age of eightcen months to six years ; Mrs. Emma R. Crowley was the preceptress. This Christian and philanthropic enter- prise was no doubt the germ of those humane and benevolent institu- tions whieb now grace and ennoble our city, by giving food, shelter, and bomes, with secular and religious instructions, to its orphan chil- dren.

"In 1829 a similar school was established, called the Pattern Infant School. Jesse N. Doolittle was secretary of the board, and Miss Han- nab Payson teacher. Children were admitted between the ages of two and seven years upon payment of $2.50 per term.

317

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

"THE SCHOOLS OF 1829.

" I have found the following record of the schools that were in the village in 1829, alphabetically arranged :

" Mons. Abadie, French Teacher, Mansion House.

" Mrs. Adams and Miss Chamberlain's School, Whitesboro' Street, west of Washington.

" Mr. Bartlettt's High School, Broad Street, cast of Mohawk.

" Miss Bowen's School, John Street, north of Catharine.

" Mrs. Burghart's School, Genesee Street, above Carnahan.

" Miss Burgess' School, Elizabeth Street, head of Burnett.

" Mrs. Carter's Young Ladies' Seminary, Jobn Street, opposite Utica Academy.

" Miss Dieken's School, Whitesboro' Street, west of Broadway.

" Miss Dickinson's School, Schuyler Street, south of Whitesboro'.

" Mr. Dorchester's School, select and classical, Washington Street, south of Lafayette.

" Mrs. Edgerton's School, Broadway, sonth of Pearl.

" Mr. and Mrs. Everts' Young Ladies' Seminary, Whitesboro' Street, opposite Bank of Utica.

" Miss M. L. Harrington's School, Lafayette Street, west of Varick.

" Mrs. S. Ilastings' School, corner of Genesee and Pearl Streets.

" Infant Society School, corner Main and Third Streets.

" Miss Jones' School, corner of Hotel and Whitesboro' Streets.

" Mons. Violette, French Teacher, 148 Genesee Street.

" Miss Miller's School, Lafayette Street, foot of Madison Lanc.

" Pattern Infant School, Liberty Street, west of Washington.

" Messrs. Phillips & Kingsley's Utica Classical and Commercial Lyceum, Washington Street, north of Liberty.

" Miss Pratt's School, Cooper Street, west of Broadway.

" Miss Stevens' School, Whitesboro' Street, west of Division.

" M. Tills' School, Bridge Street, head of Franklin.

" Mons. Vicat, French Teacher, Washington Hall.

" Mr. Walker's School, Pearl Street.

" Miss Walker's School, Burnett Street.

"Rev. Mr. Whittlesey's Seminary for Young Ladies, Whitesboro' Street, foot of Ilotel, late York House.

" Miss Williams' School, John Street, north of Catharine.

" Mrs. Wright's School, Broad Street, east of Mohawk.

" Miss Wright's School, corner of Bleecker and First Streets.

" Utica Academy, John Street.

" Utica Common School, Catharine Street, head of Franklin.

" Making thirty-three schools in a village of less than 8000 inhabi- tants. If the children of those days were not educated it certainly was not for lack of schools.

" In 1830 a school was kept by Ira Chamberlain in a building ad- joining the engine-house in Devereux Street. Mr. Chamberlain was succceded by Mr. W. W. Williams, who taught the school very acceptably until he was appointed teacher in the Utica Academy in 1836.

" In 1832, John Williams established his Classical and Commercial School, which he successfully conducted for a period of forty-one years, terminating with his death, in 1873.

" At about this time, 1832, a classicnl school was opened on Wash- ington Street, with Lewis Bailey, principal.

"In 1832 a Catholic school was established on John Street, above Bleecker, opposite St. John's Church; Professor Patrick Finnegan, teacher. This school was mostly maintained by private subserip- tions, one individual paying the tuition for forty pupils.

" In 1833 a school was kept in a small wooden building in Genesee Street, on the site now occupied by the residence of E. S. Brayton. This school was tanght by Miss E. Fox.

" In 1833 the Utica Female Institute was established, with Mr. and Mrs. Johnson principals, who were succeeded by S. Hume McLaren. This school was located near the foot of Hotel Street, in the York House, then one of the most spacious buildings in the city.

" Many of our older citizens remember attending a school kept by William Barrett, about the year 1835. This school was located on Genesee Street, where J. II. & N. A. Williams' store now stands. Mr. Barrett afterwards studied law and located in Little Falls.

" About the same date Miss Luce taught a school located where the Opera-House now stands, on Fayette Street. This school was quite popular, and is well spoken of by several of our citizens.

"The Utica Female Academy was opened in 1837, with Miss Shel- dm as principal. It is n noticeable fact, and one which bespeaks its

own commendations, that this is the only private institution which has survived the vicissitudes of human affairs, maintaining an ex- tended usefulness until the present time, a period of thirty-nine years,#

"In 1844 the the Pine Street Academy was organized. The school was conducted in two separate buildings, located on Pine Street, as the advertisement stated, 'away from the noise and bustle of business.' The school was under the principalship of Alanson Smith. The male and female pupils occupied separate buildings, and were not allowed to visit each other except by special permission, and then only in tho presence of some of the faculty.

"The first common school of the city was established in the year 1816 (Utica then being a small village in the town of Whitestown), one year before it was constituted a town, and sixteen years before it was incorporated one of the cities of the State. Joseph Carter was the first principal, who was succeeded by Mr. Eliasaph Dorchester, with Miss Susan Wright as teacher of the primary department.

"In 1831, after an interval of fifteen years, a second public school was opened, of which Nicholas Smith, James Mapes, and Adam Bow- man were trustees, and Miss Adaline O'Toole teacher. The population of the town at this period was 8500, with two public and more than thirty private schools.

" In 1834 a third public school was added to the list, with Abraham Yates as teacher. A primary and intermediate school was established in a building on the corner of Whitesboro' and Washington Streets; William Osborne, teacher. This brings this sketch down to the organ- ization of the present public school system, the records of which have been published.

" In 1843, when the common schools were placed in charge of the school commissioners, the city owned three school-houses, valued at $3100. I give the following list of school furniture in No. 1, copied verbatim from the records :

" FURNITURE.

1 Stove and Pipe. $3.00

1 Table 3s., 1 Chair 1s. 50

1 Black Board 11s., 2 Brooms Sc. 1.66

1 Pail 18. 6d., 1 Cup 6d 25

5 National Readers 4c ... 20

6 Emerson's Arithmetics 6c 36

6 Testaments 6c., 4 Desks 8 4.36

$10.33

"TEXT-BOOKS.

"School-books consist of Testaments, Hale's History United States, English Reader, Cobb's Reader, Nos. 1-3, Cobb's Spelling Book, Ele- mentary Spelling Book, Smith's Grammar, Kirkham's Grammar, Murray's Grammar, Day's Algebra, Mrs. B.'s Conversation, Mitchell's Geography, Malte Brun's Geography, Iluntington's Geography, Smith's Geography, Mitchell's Small Geography, Olney's Geography, Peter Parley's Geography, Daboll's Arithmetic, Smith's Arithmetic, Davies' Arithmetic, Pike's Arithmetic, Emerson's Arithmetic, Col- burn's Arithmetic."

UTICA ACADEMY.

This institution was incorporated on the 28th of March, 1814, upon the petition of the following citizens, drawn up on the 31st of December preceding : Jeremiah Van Rens- selaer, Arthur Breese, John Stewart, Jr., Thomas Walker, Bryan Johnson, David W. Childs, Ebenezer B. Shearman, Samuel Stocking, Augustus Hickox, Gurdon Burchard, Benjamin Paine, Abraham Varick, Jr., A. Van Santvoort, James Van Rensselaer, Jr., Erastus Clark, James S. Kip, Joseph Kirkland, John Bellinger, and Nathan Williams. The petition was presented to the Regents of the University asking for the incorporation of the Academy, and stating that they had already contributed more than one-half the value of the real and personal property collected and appro- priated for the purpose.

# Sce farther on.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

By the charter, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, F. A. Blood- good, J. Stewart, Jr., A. Breese, Apollos Cooper, Thomas Walker, Solomon Woleott, E. B. Shearman, Thomas Skinner, Bryan Johnson, Taleott Camp, D. W. Childs, and Anson Thomas were named its first trustees. " A seleet school had been previously established, which was taken in charge by the trustees, and in 1816 a subseription was started by the patrons and friends of the Academy, and another by the village corporation and citizens generally, for the purpose of erecting an academy, town-house, and eourt-room by their combined efforts and means." In 1816 the lots were purchased of Mrs. Brinckerhoff for $2000. The title was made to the trustees, but in trust, and on the condition that the Academy should permit " all village or town-meetings, and eourts of justice sitting in said village, to be holden in said building."

The building was completed in 1818 sufficiently to be occupied for school purposes, and Rev. Samuel T. Mills became the first preceptor, with a Mr. Whitesides as assist- ant. The building was repaired and improved at various times, and during the prevalence of the eholera, in July and August, 1832, was temporarily fitted up and used as a hospital, during which occupation the Academy library was mostly lost or destroyed.

The original building was taken down and replaced by the present fine building in 1867-68. The lot upon which it stands is located on the corner of Bleeeker and Academy Streets, fronting on Chancellor Square, and is 1883 by 190 feet in dimensions. The building is constructed of red briek, and is about 60 by 80 fect in dimensions, with a fine tower projeeting 12 feet from the Academy Street front. It is in the modern style, two stories in height, and surmounted by a French roof covered with slate. The height of the lower story is 13 feet, and of the upper 21 feet. The tower is 98 feet in height. The building is well ventilated, and sup- plied with gas and water. It has sittings for about 200 pupils. The library, according to the last sehool report, contains 550 volumes, seleeted with mueh care, and com- posed mostly of books of reference. The library-room is handsomely furnished with black walnut and chestnut book- eases. The building also contains a complete philosophieal and chemieal apparatus, valued at $1069.37. The grounds are tastefully ornamented with a fine variety of trees and shrubbery, and the walks are substantially paved with superior flagging-stone.

The value of the property of the Academy is as follows :

House and lot $85,000.00

Outhouses, walks, etc.

4,631.00

Heating apparatus ..

2,125.00

Chemical and philosophical apparatus. 1,069.37

Library.

1,117.36

Furniture.

2,800.00

Total. $96,742.73

Scven teachers are employed, and the average annual attendanee is about 100.

ADVANCED SCHOOL.

This school is next in grade to the Academy. The original building was ereeted about 1847 on the corner of Elizabeth and Charlotte Streets. In 1875 it was greatly enlarged and improved, to meet the inereasing demands of

the school department, and is now a model building, 63 by 102 feet in dimensions, and is three stories in height above the basement, which is used for storage and for the heating apparatus. The building, which is of brick, is splendidly lighted, ventilated, and heated, and will comfortably ac- eommodate 702 pupils, and can be arranged to seat 756 without crowding.

Thirteen teachers are employed, and the average number of pupils in attendance is 450.

The value of this property is as follows :

Building and lot. $88,000

Outhouses, fences, and walks .. 3,458

Heating apparatus 5,000

Furniture, etc. 3,987

Total $100,445

WHITESBORO' STREET SCHOOL.

This building was ereeted in 1853. It is of briek, and two stories in height, and has aeeommodations for 250 pupils. The school is supplied with spring water. Teachers employed, 4; number of pupils, 178.

Value of property as follows :

Building and lot. $9,000

Outbuildings, etc 614

Ileating apparatus. 315

Furniture, etc 1,405

Total. $11,334

AIKEN STREET SCHOOL.

Building of briek; two stories; erected in 1852-53; sittings, 148 ; teachers employed, 4; average daily attend- anee, 156.

Value of property :

House and lot $9,855

Outhouses, fences, etc. 807

Heating apparatus. 375

Furniture, etc

1,325

Total. $12,362

UNION STREET SCHOOL.

Building two stories, 51 feet 8 inches by 75 feet 4 inches, and 49 feet high ; sittings, not given ; number of teachers, 8; average daily attendanee, 348.

Value of property :

Building and lot $35,000

Outhouses, fences, and walks. 1,200

HIeating apparatus.

1,175

Furniture, etc.

2,420

Total $39,795

BLANDINA STREET SCHOOL.

Building of brick ; two-story ; erected in 1852; sittings, 248; teachers, 4; average attendanee, 154.

Value of property :

Building and lot. $8,500

Outhouses, etc ..

688

Heating apparatus 360

Furniture, etc ... 1,225

Total. $10,773

HAMILTON STREET SCHOOL.

Building of briek ; two stories. Erected in 1851. Sit- tings, 248; teachers, 4; average attendanee, 180.

Value of property :

D.P. Ahialmar

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History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 84

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 932